The towering creature loomed above them, its presence suffocating. The air around it warped, reality itself trembling at the sheer power of the entity. Its eyes, burning with crimson energy, locked onto Sam, and for a moment, he felt the weight of ages pressing down on him. A thousand forgotten souls seemed to whisper in his mind, their voices overlapping, pushing him toward despair.
"You are too weak," the creature's voice echoed, low and guttural, each syllable carrying the crushing weight of inevitability. "You cannot stop what has already begun."
Sam's heart pounded in his chest, but he didn't flinch. He could feel his ancestors within him, their power a steady flame beneath his skin. They were with him, guiding him.
"I've heard that before," Sam said, his voice steady despite the fear creeping up his spine. "But I'm still standing."
The creature's laugh was like a thousand shattered chains, rattling the very air. It raised one massive hand, and the ground beneath them split open, the Rift's influence pulling at the very fabric of reality. Sam could feel the pull, the terrifying pressure of the Abyss trying to drag him down into its dark maw.
"Then let us see how long you can stand," the creature hissed, launching forward with a speed that defied its size.
Sam barely had time to react before the creature's hand came crashing down toward him. He raised his arms instinctively, channeling the power of his Veins—fire, wind, and earth—flares of energy erupting from his body. The impact shattered the ground around him, sending him tumbling backward.
"Sam!" Rael's voice cut through the chaos, and he was there in an instant, pulling Sam back to his feet. "You need to focus! You can't just brute-force this!"
"I'm not trying to brute-force it," Sam growled, shaking off the dizziness. He raised his hands, calling upon the power of his Resonance. "I'm trying to hold it together."
The creature's massive form shifted, its tendrils of dark energy reaching out like serpents. The air crackled with power as it began to reshape the very landscape around them.
"Resonance isn't enough," the creature sneered, its voice vibrating with malice. "You can't fight what you don't understand. The Rift is inevitable. It will consume all."
Sam took a deep breath, grounding himself. He felt the pull of the Veins within him, the power of Lapu-Lapu, Bonifacio, Rizal, Gabriela, and Sultan Kudarat all aligning in his mind. His senses sharpened, his vision clearing. He saw the Rift's influence for what it truly was—not a force of nature, but something more insidious. A force that sought to break down the bonds of reality itself.
"Then let me show you what happens when you stand together," Sam muttered.
He stepped forward, raising his arms high. "Resonance Link!"
A wave of energy burst outward, the combined power of the ancestral heroes flooding his body. He felt the burn of fire, the howl of wind, the strength of earth, and the clarity of wisdom. It wasn't just power—it was purpose. A unified force of all those who had stood against tyranny and destruction.
Lapu-Lapu's fiery blade manifested beside him, crackling with divine flame. Andres Bonifacio's dual daggers flashed with stormy energy. Jose Rizal's psychic rapier shimmered with a bluish glow, carving through the air with precision. Gabriela Silang's whip snapped with the force of a gale, while Sultan Kudarat's massive shield pulsed with unyielding power.
The creature roared in defiance, but it wasn't enough to deter Sam. He could feel the shift in the air as his ancestors' spirits infused the attack with everything they had.
With a cry, Sam unleashed the combined fury of his summons in a single, unified strike.
"Walang Takot!" Lapu-Lapu's voice rang out, the flames erupting from his blade in a blinding wave.
"Sigaw ng Katipunan!" Bonifacio's rallying cry boosted their power, spreading through the group like an electric current.
"La Liga Vision!" Rizal's foresight helped guide the strike's path, ensuring it would hit its mark.
"Dance of the Storm General!" Gabriela's ghostly presence swirled in the attack, adding a storm's fury to the onslaught.
"Indarapatra's Bulwark!" Sultan Kudarat's shield spread its protective aura, amplifying the strike's power.
The combined force hit the creature square in the chest, causing it to stagger back. But it wasn't enough to break it—not yet.
The Rift began to react. The ground shook violently as the creature let out a screeching wail that rattled Sam's bones. The sky above them turned dark, swirling with energies that felt both ancient and new. The very fabric of reality was beginning to tear apart.
"It's too strong," Sam said, struggling to stay grounded. "We're not finished yet."
Rael moved in, grabbing Sam by the shoulder. "We can't keep doing this," he said, breathless. "We need a way to stop it for good."
Valencia appeared at his side, her face grim. "We need to find its weakness. There's always a heart to every beast."
Sam nodded, his gaze locking onto the creature. "Then we find its heart."
He stepped forward, pushing through the pain and the weight of the Rift's pressure. The Rift was weakening. He could feel it. The creature was strong, but its hold on reality was slipping. The time to end this was now.
The creature's next attack came in a blur of darkness, but Sam was ready. He focused every ounce of his power into one final strike, channeling all the Veins, all the ancestral spirits, into the heart of the creature.
The world trembled as the blow landed